Permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine capable of realizing variable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speed at high output and improving, in a wide operating range, efficiency, reliability, and productivity. A narrow magnetic path  11  is formed in a rotor core  2  of a rotor  1  at an inter-pole yoke that magnetically connects adjacent pole core portions  7  to each other, so that the narrow magnetic path is magnetically saturated with flux of a magnetic field created by a predetermined magnetizing current passed to an armature coil  21 . Each of first permanent magnets  3  at each of the pole core portions  7  is magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing current passed to the armature coil  21 , to irreversibly change the flux amount of the first permanent magnet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine, a method of assembling a permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine, a method of disassembling apermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine, and a permanentmagnet motor drive system.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

Generally, permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machines areclassified into two types. One is a surface-permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine having permanent magnets adhered to an outercircumferential face of a rotor core and the other is aninternal-permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine havingpermanent magnets embedded in a rotor core. For a variable-speed drivingmotor, the internal-permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine isappropriate.

With reference to FIG. 20, a configuration of a conventionalinternal-permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine will beexplained. Along an outer circumference of a rotor core 2 of a rotor 1,rectangular hollows are arranged at regular intervals, the number of therectangular hollows being equal to the number of poles. In FIG. 20, therotor 1 has four poles, and therefore, four hollows are arranged toreceive permanent magnets 4, respectively. Each permanent magnet 4 ismagnetized in a radial direction of the rotor 1, i.e., in a directionorthogonal to a side (long side in FIG. 20) of the rectangular sectionof the permanent magnet 4 that faces an air gap. The permanent magnet 4is usually an NdFeB permanent magnet having high coercive force so thatit is not demagnetized with a load current. The rotor core 2 is formedby laminating electromagnetic sheets through which the hollows arepunched. The rotor 1 is incorporated in a stator 20. The stator 20 hasan armature coil 21 that is received in a slot formed inside a statorcore 22. An inner circumferential face of the stator 20 and an outercircumferential face of the rotor 1 face each other with the air gap 23interposing between them.

Known examples of such a permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine are described in “Design and Control of Internal MagnetSynchronous Motor,” Takeda Yoji, et al., a document of Ohm-shaPublishing (Non-Patent Document 1) and Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. H07-336919 (Patent Document 1). An exampleof a high-output rotating electrical machine having an excellentvariable-speed characteristic is a permanent-magnet-type reluctancemotor. Examples thereof are described in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. H11-27913 (Patent Document 2) and JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-136912 (PatentDocument 3). Further, there is an internal permanent motor employingAlNiCo magnets whose magnetic force is changed. Examples thereof aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,977 (Patent Document 4) and Weschta,“Schachung des Erregerfelds bei einer dauermagneterregtenSynchronmaschine”, ETZ Archiv Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 79-84 (1985)(Non-Patent Document 2).

The rotating electrical machine of the Non-Patent Document 2 is apermanent magnet motor employing AlNiCo magnets, flux amount of theAlNiCo magnets being changed. This related art may demagnetize theAlNiCo magnets but it hardly magnetizes the AlNiCo magnets to anoriginal magnetized state. The rotating electrical machine mentioned inthe Patent Document 4 is a flux-concentration-type internal permanentmagnet motor employing AlNiCo permanent magnets. This rotatingelectrical machine is a modification of the rotating electrical machinedescribed in the Non-Patent Document 2, and like the rotating electricalmachine of the Non-Patent Document 2, applies a magnetic field to changethe flux amount of the AlNiCo magnets. The rotating electrical machineof the Patent Document 4 is a simple AlNiCo magnet motor, and therefore,provides insufficient output. When torque is produced in the rotatingelectrical machine of the Non-Patent Document 2 or of the PatentDocument 4, the AlNiCo magnets are demagnetized by a load current, todecrease the torque. To generate sufficient torque with the AlNiComagnets whose energy product is small, the AlNiCo magnets must be thickin a magnetizing direction. To magnetize such thick AlNiCo magnets, avery large current must be passed. Namely, the permanent magnets arehardly magnetized and the flux amount thereof becomes unchangeable.

In the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine, the permanentmagnets always generate constant linkage flux to increase a voltageinduced by the permanent magnets in proportion to a rotation speed.Accordingly, when variable-speed operation is carried out from low speedto high speed, the voltage (counter electromotive voltage) induced bythe permanent magnets becomes very high at high rotation speed. Thevoltage induced by the permanent magnets is applied to electronic partsof an inverter, and if the applied voltage exceeds a withstand voltageof the electronic parts, the parts will cause insulation breakage. It isnecessary, therefore, to design the machine so that the flux amount ofthe permanent magnets is suppressed below the withstand voltage. Such adesign, however, lowers the output and efficiency of thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine in a low-speed zone.

If the variable-speed operation is carried out in such a way as toprovide nearly a constant output from low speed to high speed, thevoltage of the rotating electrical machine will reach an upper limit ofa power source voltage in a high rotation speed zone, not to pass acurrent necessary for output because the linkage flux of the permanentmagnets is constant. This greatly drops the output in the high rotationspeed zone, so that the variable-speed operation will not be carried outin a wide range up to high rotation speed.

Recent techniques of expanding a variable-speed range employflux-weakening control such as one described in the Non-PatentDocument 1. A total linkage flux amount of an armature coil is the sumof flux by a d-axis current and flux by permanent magnets. Theflux-weakening control generates flux with a negative d-axis current toreduce the total linkage flux amount. The flux-weakening control makes apermanent magnet of high coercive force operate in a reversible range ona magnetic characteristic curve (B-H characteristic curve). For this,the permanent magnet must be an NdFeB magnet of high coercive force sothat it may not irreversibly demagnetized with a demagnetizing fieldproduced by the flux-weakening control.

In the flux-weakening control, flux produced by a negative d-axiscurrent reduces linkage flux and a reduced portion of the linkage fluxproduces a voltage margin for an upper voltage limit. This makes itpossible to increase a current for a torque component, therebyincreasing an output in a high-speed zone. In addition, the voltagemargin makes it possible to increase a rotation speed, thereby expandinga variable-speed operating range.

Always passing a negative d-axis current that contributes nothing to anoutput, however, increases a copper loss to deteriorate efficiency. Inaddition, a demagnetizing field produced by the negative d-axis currentgenerates harmonic flux that causes a voltage increase. Such a voltageincrease limits the voltage reduction achieved by the flux-weakeningcontrol. These factors make it difficult for the flux-weakening controlto conduct the variable-speed operation for theinternal-permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine at speedsover three times a base speed. In addition, the harmonic flux increasesan iron loss to drastically reduce efficiency in middle- and high-speedzones. Further, the harmonic flux generates an electromagnetic forcethat produces vibration.

When the internal-permanent magnet motor is employed as a drive motor ofa hybrid car, the motor rotates together with an engine when only theengine is used to drive the hybrid car. In this case, voltage induced bypermanent magnets of the motor increases at middle and high rotationspeeds. To suppress the induced voltage below a power source voltage,the flux-weakening control continuously passes the negative d-axiscurrent. The motor in this state produces only a loss to deteriorate anoverall operating efficiency.

On the other hand, when the internal-permanent magnet motor is employedas a drive motor of an electric train, the electric train sometimescarries out a coasting operation. Then, like the above-mentionedexample, the flux-weakening control is carried out to continuously passthe negative d-axis current to suppress voltage induced by permanentmagnets below a power source voltage. The motor in this state onlyproduces a loss to deteriorate an overall operating efficiency.

A technique to solve these problems is disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2006-280195 (Patent Document 5). Thetechnique described in the Patent Document 5 relates to apermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine capable of conductingvariable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speedand improving efficiency and reliability. This machine includes a statorprovided with a stator coil and a rotor having low-coercive-forcepermanent magnets whose coercive force is of such a level that amagnetic field created by a current of the stator coil may irreversiblychange the flux density of the magnets and high-coercive-force permanentmagnets whose coercive force is equal to or larger than twice that ofthe low-coercive-force permanent magnets. In a high rotation speed zonein which the voltage of the machine exceeds a maximum power sourcevoltage, a current is passed to create a magnetic field that magnetizesthe low-coercive-force permanent magnets in such a way as to reducetotal linkage flux produced by the low-coercive-force andhigh-coercive-force permanent magnets, thereby adjusting a total linkageflux amount.

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine described inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H07-336980(Patent Document 6) is a brushless DC motor. This brushless DC motoremploys a rotor core having a small-coercive-force first magnet part anda large-coercive-force second magnet part. Flux amount of a magneticpole of the rotor core is reduced by applying power to an armature coil,to invert only a magnetizing direction of the small-coercive-force firstmagnet part. This realizes a flux reduction without always passing anopposite field current to the armature coil during demagnetization.

In the case of this conventional brushless DC motor, the kind of magnetsadopted for the first and second magnet parts is unclear and themagnetic characteristic thereof is unidentifiable because FIG. 7indicates no values. However, the shapes of magnetic characteristicgraphs thereof allow an estimation that the small-coercive-force firstmagnet part seems to be made of ferrite-based permanent magnets and thelarge-coercive-force second magnet part of NdFeB permanent magnets. Evenif the two kinds of permanent magnets having large and small coerciveforces as illustrated in the magnetic characteristic curves of FIG. 7are employed, the ferrite-based permanent magnets have small coerciveforce, and therefore, are easily demagnetized to raise the problem ofdemagnetization even with a magnetic field produced by a q-axis torquecurrent, the necessity of a large current for demagnetization, theproblem of insufficient torque, and the like.

On the other hand, if a permanent magnet having a coercive force of 300kA/m or over is employed as the permanent magnet to be demagnetized, alarge current must be passed to demagnetize the same, to raise theproblems of enlarging a power source and saturating parts around thepermanent magnet due to a magnetic field created by the demagnetizingcurrent, thereby preventing the demagnetization of the permanent magnet.If a remnant flux density of the permanent magnet is smaller than 0.6 Tlike a ferrite-based permanent magnet (0.45 T in the case of a ferritemagnet), the width of change in flux amount is small to raise theproblem of narrowing an output variable width.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. H07-336919-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. H11-27913-   Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. H11-136912-   Patent Document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,977-   Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. 2006-280195-   Patent Document 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application    Publication No. H07-336980-   Non-Patent Document 1: “Design and Control of Internal Magnet    Synchronous Motor,” Takeda Yoji, et al., Ohm-sha Publishing-   Non-Patent Document 2: Weschta, “Schachung des Erregerfelds bei    einer dauermagneterregten Synchronmaschine”, ETZ Archiv Vol. 7, No.    3, pp. 79-84 (1985)

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentionedproblems of the related arts and an object of the present invention isto provide a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine and apermanent magnet motor drive system, capable of conductingvariable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speed,realizing high torque in a low rotation speed zone and high output inmiddle and high rotation speed zones, improving efficiency, reliability,and productivity, and reducing materials, in particular, rare materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methods of easilyassembling and disassembling the permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine by utilizing the above-mentioned characteristics ofthe permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine.

An aspect of the present invention is a permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine including a rotor having a plurality of firstpermanent magnets embedded in a cylindrical rotor core at equiangularintervals in a rotation direction, each of the first permanent magnetshaving a product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thicknesssmaller than that of a second permanent magnet and being oriented sothat a magnetizing direction thereof is orthogonal to a diametraldirection or in a diametral direction and a plurality of the secondpermanent magnets embedded in the rotor core at equiangular intervals inthe rotation direction, each of the second permanent magnets having aproduct of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness largerthan that of the first permanent magnet, being oriented so that amagnetizing direction thereof agrees with a diametral direction, andbeing positioned between adjacent ones of the first permanent magnets sothat the adjacent first permanent magnets and the second permanentmagnet between them form a magnetic pole, the number of the magneticpoles being equal to the number of the second permanent magnets, astator arranged to surround the rotor with a magnetic air gapinterposing between them, and an armature coil formed on an innercircumferential part of the stator that faces the magnetic air gap. Anarrow magnetic path is formed in the rotor core at an inter-pole yokethat magnetically connects adjacent ones of the magnetic poles to eachother, so that the narrow magnetic path is magnetically saturated withflux of a magnetic field created by a predetermined magnetizing currentpassed to the armature coil. Each of the plurality of first permanentmagnets at each of the plurality of magnetic poles is magnetized with amagnetic field created by a magnetizing current passed to the armaturecoil, to irreversibly change the flux amount of the first permanentmagnet.

Another aspect of the present invention is a permanent magnet motordrive system including a permanent magnet motor using permanent magnets,an inverter to drive the permanent magnet motor, and a magnetizing unitto pass a magnetizing current for controlling flux of the permanentmagnets. The permanent magnet motor includes a rotor having a pluralityof first permanent magnets embedded in a cylindrical rotor core atequiangular intervals in a rotation direction, each of the firstpermanent magnets having a product of coercive force and magnetizingdirection thickness smaller than that of a second permanent magnet andbeing oriented so that a magnetizing direction thereof is orthogonal toa diametral direction or in a diametral direction and a plurality of thesecond permanent magnets embedded in the rotor core at equiangularintervals in the rotation direction, each of the second permanentmagnets having a product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness larger than that of the first permanent magnet, being orientedso that a magnetizing direction thereof agrees with a diametraldirection, and being positioned between adjacent ones of the firstpermanent magnets so that the adjacent first permanent magnets and thesecond permanent magnet between them form a magnetic pole, the number ofthe magnetic poles being equal to the number of the second permanentmagnets, a stator arranged to surround the rotor with a magnetic air gapinterposing between them, and an armature coil formed on an innercircumferential part of the stator that faces the magnetic air gap. Themagnetizing unit passes for a short time a d-axis current of thearmature coil of the permanent magnet motor, to generate a magneticfield that magnetizes the first permanent magnets at each magnetic poleso as to irreversibly change a flux amount of the permanent magnets, andfurther, changes the current phase of a current passed to the armaturecoil, to pass a magnetizing current.

The permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine provided by thepresent invention is capable of conducting variable-speed operation in awide range from low speed to high speed, realizing high torque in a lowrotation speed zone and high output in middle and high rotation speedzones, improving efficiency, reliability, and productivity, and reducingmaterials, in particular, rare materials.

The methods of assembling and disassembling the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine of the present invention insert the rotorinto the inside of the stator, or pull out the rotor from the stator.The methods carry out the assembling or the disassembling in amagnetized state that flux by the first permanent magnet and flux by thesecond permanent magnet are oppositely oriented at the magnetic pole orthe magnetic air gap. Namely, the methods carry out the assembling orthe disassembling with a magnetic attraction force that attracts therotor to the stator weakened. The assembling work or the disassemblingwork is easily carried out without using large jigs that resist againstthe magnetic attraction force.

The permanent magnet motor drive system of the present invention iscapable of conducting variable-speed operation in a wide range from lowspeed to high speed and realizing high torque in a low rotation speedzone and high output and high efficiency in middle and high rotationspeed zones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a graph of magnetic characteristics of a low-coercive-forcepermanent magnet and high-coercive-force permanent magnet adopted aspermanent magnets of a rotor according to the above-mentionedembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of flux (maximum linkage flux) ofpermanent magnets that have irreversibly magnetized with a d-axiscurrent passed for a short time in the rotor of the above-mentionedembodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of flux of a demagnetizing field createdby a d-axis current passed for a short time in the rotor of theabove-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of flux (minimum linkage flux) ofpermanent magnets after the action of the demagnetizing field created bythe d-axis current passed for a short time (after the annihilation ofthe magnetic field created by the d-axis current) in the rotor of theabove-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a magnetic field created by a positived-axis current and a magnetic field created by a load current (q-axiscurrent) in the rotor of the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a permanent magnet motor drive systemaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a simplified model view of a variable flux permanent magnetmotor.

FIG. 9 is a BH characteristic diagram of the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of amagnetization request generate unit in the permanent magnet motor drivesystem according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of avariable flux control unit in the permanent magnet motor drive systemaccording to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart of motor control by the permanent magnet motordrive system according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a section of a rotor and flux in apermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a rotor in a permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a rotor in a permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine according to an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a permanent magnet motor drive systemaccording to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of avariable flux control unit in the permanent magnet motor drive systemaccording to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a timing chart of motor control by the permanent magnet motordrive system according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a conventional internal permanent magnetmotor.

BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTING INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail withreference to the drawings. Although each of the below-mentionedembodiments exemplarily shows a four-pole permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine, any other number of poles is adoptable.

First Embodiment Permanent-Magnet-Type Rotating Electrical Machine

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention. Inside a stator 20, a rotor 1 is accommodated to face thestator 20 with an air gap 23 interposing between them. The stator 20 isa conventional one and is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rotor 1 in the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine according to the embodiment includes a rotorcore 2, first permanent magnets 3 whose product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness is small, and second permanent magnets 4whose product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness islarge. The rotor core 2 is constituted by laminating silicon steelplates. The first permanent magnet 3 whose product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness is small is an AlNiCo magnet and fourpieces thereof are embedded in diametral sections of the rotor core 2.The first permanent magnet 3 may be an FeCrCo magnet. The secondpermanent magnet 4 whose product of coercive force and magnetizingdirection thickness is large is an NdFeB magnet and four pieces thereofare embedded in diametral sections of the rotor core 2.

The first permanent magnet 3 made of an AlNiCo magnet is arrangedsubstantially along the diameter of the rotor 1 and a cross sectionthereof is trapezoidal with a diametrally outer side being wider and adiametrally inner side being narrower. A magnetizing direction of thefirst permanent magnet 3 is substantially circumferential (rotationdirection) and an average magnetizing direction thickness thereof is 6mm according to the embodiment (although the thickness is dependent onspecifications). The second permanent magnet 4 made of an NdFeB magnetis substantially arranged in a circumferential direction (rotationdirection) and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. A magnetizingdirection of the second permanent magnet 4 is substantially diametraland a magnetizing direction thickness thereof is 2 mm according to theembodiment.

An inner circumferential side of the rotor core 2 is engaged with arotary shaft 9. The inner circumferential side of the rotor core 2 has ashape mentioned below. A yoke that is on an inner circumferential sideof an inter-pole part and magnetically connects adjacent pole coreportions 7 to each other in the rotor core 2 is diametrally thinned withrespect to the other parts, to form a narrow magnetic path 11 that ismagnetically saturated with flux of a magnetic field created by apredetermined magnetizing current passed to the armature coil 21. Ateach of the pole core portions 7, each of the first permanent magnets 3is magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing currentpassed to the armature coil 21, to irreversibly change a flux amount ofthe first permanent magnet 3. Flux produced by the magnetizing currentis saturated at the narrow magnetic path 11, and therefore, flux havinga larger saturation flux density never passes through the secondpermanent magnets 4. The flux produced by the magnetizing currentselectively passes through the first permanent magnets 3, to effectivelydemagnetize the same and reverse the magnetizing direction of the same.At this time, no flux having a larger saturation flux density passesthrough the second permanent magnets 4, to hardly demagnetize them.

The narrow magnetic path 11 at the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core 2is dimensioned so that it has a flux density close to magneticsaturation if no magnetizing current is passed to the armature coil 21and so that it is magnetically saturated if a magnetizing current ispassed to the armature coil 21. The shaft 9 is made of non-magneticmaterial such as stainless steel.

FIG. 2 illustrates the magnetic characteristics of an alnico (AlNiCo)magnet used for the first permanent magnet 3 of the embodiment, anFeCrCo magnet, and an NdFeB magnet used for the second permanent magnet4. A coercive force (a magnetic field where a flux density becomes zero)of the AlNiCo magnet is 60 to 120 kA/m and is 1/15 to ⅛ of a coerciveforce of 950 kA/m of the NdFeB magnet. A coercive force of the FeCrComagnet is about 60 kA/m which is 1/15 of the coercive force of 950 kA/mof the NdFeB magnet. It is understood that the AlNiCo magnet and FeCrComagnet each have a coercive force fairly lower than that of the NdFeBmagnet.

There is a knickpoint, i.e., a break point where a reversiblemagnetizing range in which flux density reversibly changes with respectto an external magnetic field changes to an irreversible magnetizingrange in which flux density irreversibly changes with respect to anexternal magnetic field. The knickpoint of the AlNiCo magnet (AlNiCo)serving as the first permanent magnet 3 is at a position equal to orover 0.6 T and that of the FeCrCo magnet is at a position equal to orover 0.8 T. In the case of the NdFeB magnet serving as the secondpermanent magnet 4, no knickpoint is present in the second and fourthquadrants, and therefore, the flux density thereof reversibly changes inevery zone with respect to an external magnetic field.

Magnetization of the permanent magnets according to the embodiment willbe explained. In connection with the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 on ad-axis magnetic circuit, flux by a d-axis current passes between twoNdFeB permanent magnets 4 (two adjacent NdFeB permanent magnets 4 havingdifferent poles), and therefore, a magnetic field by the d-axis currentacts on one NdFeB permanent magnet 4 per pole. In connection with theAlNiCo permanent magnets 3, the flux by the d-axis current passesthrough one AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 between magnetic poles, andtherefore, the magnetic field by the d-axis current acts on ½ of theNdFeB permanent magnet 4 per pole. When evaluating the characteristicsof the permanent magnets on a magnetic circuit for one pole, themagnetizing direction thickness of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 isconsidered as ½ of the actual size thereof.

According to the embodiment, the first permanent magnet 3 whose productof coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness is small is anAlNiCo magnet having a coercive force of 120 kA/m. According to theembodiment, the AlNiCo magnet has the product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness of 120 kA/m×(6×10−/2) m=360 A. Thesecond permanent magnet 4 whose product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness is large is an NdFeB magnet having acoercive force of 1000 kA/m. According to the embodiment, the NdFeBmagnet has the product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness of 1000 kA/m×(2×10−3) m=2000 A. According to the embodiment,the product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness of theNdFeB permanent magnet 4 is 5.6 times as large as that of the AlNiCopermanent magnet 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, each low-coercive-force AlNiCo permanentmagnet 3 is embedded in the rotor core 2. Each end of the AlNiCopermanent magnet 3 is provided with a hollow 5. The AlNiCo permanentmagnet 3 is arranged in a radial direction of the rotor 1 along a q-axisserving as a center axis of an inter-pole part. An axis of easymagnetization of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is substantially acircumferential direction, i.e., a direction orthogonal to the radius ofthe rotor 1 (in FIG. 1, a direction orthogonal to a line that halves thetrapezoidal section of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 and passes througha rotation center).

The high-coercive-force NdFeB permanent magnet 4 is also embedded in therotor core 2 and each end thereof is provided with a hollow 5. The NdFeBpermanent magnets 4 are arranged substantially in a circumferentialdirection of the rotor 1 such that each NdFeB permanent magnet 4 isarranged between two AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 on an innercircumferential side of the rotor 1. An axis of easy magnetization ofthe NdFeB permanent magnet 4 is substantially orthogonal to thecircumferential direction of the rotor 1 (in FIG. 1, a directionorthogonal to a long side of the rectangular section of the NdFeBpermanent magnet 4).

Each pole core portion 7 of the rotor core 2 is surrounded by twoadjacent AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 and one NdFeB permanent magnet 4. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6, a center axis of the pole coreportion 7 of the rotor core 2 is on the d-axis and a center axis betweenmagnetic poles is on the q-axis. Accordingly, the AlNiCo permanentmagnet 3 is arranged along the q-axis, i.e., the center axis betweenmagnetic poles and is magnetized in a direction that forms 90° or −90°with respect to the q-axis. Concerning the adjacent AlNiCo permanentmagnets 3, polar faces that face each other have the same polarity.

The NdFeB permanent magnet 4 is arranged in a direction orthogonal tothe d-axis, i.e., orthogonal to the center axis of the pole core portion7 and is magnetized in a direction that forms 0° or 180° with respect tothe d-axis. Adjacent ones of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 areoppositely polarized.

[Permanent Magnet Motor Drive System]

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram illustrating a permanent magnet motordrive system 100 for rotating and driving, as a motor, thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to the firstembodiment of the present invention. Before explaining the blockdiagram, a variable flux motor as a permanent magnet synchronous motor(PM motor) will be explained. FIG. 8 illustrates an image of thevariable flux motor 101. A stator side thereof is similar to that of aconventional motor. A rotor 151 side thereof has, as permanent magnets,a fixed magnet FMG whose magnetic material has a fixed flux density anda variable magnet VMG whose magnetic material has a variable fluxdensity. The conventional PM motor has only the former fixed magnet FMG.The variable flux motor 101 is characterized in that it has the variablemagnet VMG.

Here, the fixed magnet and variable magnet will be explained. Apermanent magnet keeps a magnetized state without an external currentpassed thereto. It is not always true even for the fixed magnet that theflux density thereof is always unchanged under any condition. Even theconventional PM motor is demagnetized or magnetized when receiving anexcessive current from an inverter. Namely, the permanent magnet is nota magnet whose flux amount is unchanged, but is a magnet whose fluxdensity is almost unchanged irrespective of a current supplied by, forexample, an inverter if normally operated under rated conditions. On theother hand, the variable magnet is a magnet whose flux density changesdepending on a current passed from, for example, an inverter even underthe above-mentioned operating conditions.

The variable magnet VMG of this sort can be designed within a certainrange depending on materials and structures. For example, recent PMmotors frequently employ NdFeB (neodymium) magnets having a highremanent flux density Br. The remanent flux density Br of this magnet ishigh, for example, about 1.2 T, and therefore, large torque can beoutputted from a small apparatus. Such magnets are preferable for hybridvehicles (HEVs) and electric trains that require high-output,small-sized motors. The conventional PM motor must not be demagnetizedby normal current, and therefore, the NdFeB (neodymium) magnet having avery high coercive force Hc of about 1000 kA/m is an optimum magnet forthe PM motor. This is because, for the PM motor, a magnet having a largeremanent flux density and large coercive force is chosen.

Magnetic material such as AlNiCo (Hc=60 to 120 kA/m) or FeCrCo (Hc=about60 kA/m) having a high remanent flux density and a small coercive forceHc is used for a variable magnet. With respect to a standard currentamount (a current amount passed from an inverter to drive theconventional PM motor), the flux density (flux amount) of the NdFeBmagnet is substantially constant, and the flux density (flux amount) ofthe variable magnet VMG such as the AlNiCo magnet varies. Strictlyspeaking, the NdFeB magnet serving as the fixed magnet FMG is used in areversible zone, and therefore, the flux density thereof may vary in avery small range. It, however, restores an original value if theinverter current stops. On the other hand, the variable magnet VMG usesup to a nonreversible zone, and therefore, does not restore an originalvalue even after the inverter current stops. In FIG. 8, the fluxquantity of the AlNiCo magnet serving as the variable magnet VMG changesonly in the d-axis direction and is substantially zero in the q-axisdirection.

FIG. 9 illustrates BH characteristics (flux density-magnetizationcharacteristics) of the fixed magnet FMG and variable magnet VMG. FIG. 2illustrates a quantitatively correct relationship only of the secondquadrant of FIG. 9. In the cases of the NdFeB magnet and AlNiCo magnet,there is no significant difference between remanent flux densities Br1and Br2. Concerning coercive forces Hc1 and Hc2, Hc1 of the AlNiComagnet is 1/15 to ⅛ of Hc2 of the NdFeB magnet and Hc1 of the FeCrComagnet is 1/15 of the same.

According to the conventional permanent magnet motor drive system, amagnetization zone by an output current of an inverter is sufficientlysmaller than that of the coercive force of the NdFeB magnet and theNdFeB magnet is used within the reversible range of the magnetizationcharacteristic thereof. The variable magnet, however, has a smallcoercive force as mentioned above, and therefore, is usable in anonreversible zone (in which a flux density B before the application ofa current is never restored even if the current is zeroed) within anoutput current range of the inverter. Accordingly, the variable magnetcan vary a flux density (flux amount).

An equivalent simplified model of a dynamic characteristic of thevariable-flux motor is expressible with Math. (1). This model is a modelon a dq-axes rotating coordinate system with the d-axis oriented in thedirection of flux and the q-axis in a direction orthogonal to thed-axis.

$\begin{matrix}\left\lbrack {{Math}.\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack & \; \\{\begin{bmatrix}{Vd} \\{Vq}\end{bmatrix} = {{\frac{\mathbb{d}}{\mathbb{d}t} \times \begin{bmatrix}{Ld} & 0 \\0 & {Lq}\end{bmatrix} \times \begin{bmatrix}{Id} \\{Iq}\end{bmatrix}} + {\begin{bmatrix}{R\; 1} & {{- {\omega 1}} \times {Lq}} \\{{\omega 1} \times {Ld}} & {R\; 1}\end{bmatrix} \times \begin{bmatrix}{Id} \\{Iq}\end{bmatrix}} + {\quad\begin{bmatrix}0 \\{{\omega 1} \times \left( {{\Phi\;{fix}} + {\Phi\;{var}}} \right)}\end{bmatrix}}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

Here, R1 is a coil resistance, Ld is a d-axis inductance, Lq is a q-axisinductance, Φfix is a flux amount of the fixed magnet, Φvar is a fluxamount of the variable magnet, and ω1 is an inverter frequency.

FIG. 7 illustrates a main circuit 100A and a control circuit 100B of thepermanent magnet motor drive system 100 according to the firstembodiment. The main circuit 100A includes a DC power source 103, aninverter 104 for inverting DC power into AC power, and the variable fluxpermanent magnet motor 101 driven by the AC power from the inverter 104.The main circuit 100A is provided with an AC current detector 102 todetect motor power and a speed detector 118 to detect a motor speed.

Next, the control circuit 100B will be explained. It receives a runcommand Run* and a torque command Tm*. A run command generate unit 116receives the run command Run* and a protect signal PROT from aprotection test unit 117 and generates and outputs a run state flag Run.Basically, the run state flag Run is set to a run state (Run=1) when therun command Run* is inputted (Run*=1). If the run command instructs astoppage (Run*=0), the run state flag Run is set to a stop state(Run=0). If the protection test unit 117 determines that it isprotective (PROT=1), the run state is set to the stop state of Run=0even if the run command Run*=1.

A gate command generate unit 115 receives the run state flag Run andgenerates and outputs a gate command Gst for switching elementsincorporated in the inverter 104. If the run state flag Run changes fromstoppage (Run=0) to run (Run=1), the gate command generate unit 115instantaneously sets a gate start state (Gst=1), and if the run stateflag Run changes from run (Run=1) to stoppage (Run=0), sets a gate offstate (Gst=0) after a predetermined time.

A flux command operate unit 112 receives the run state flag Run and theinverter frequency ω1, i.e., the rotor rotational frequency ωR andgenerates and outputs a flux command Φ* according to, for example, thebelow-mentioned expression (2). If it is a stop state (Run=0), the fluxcommand Φ* is set to a minimum Φmin. If it is a run state (Run=1) and ifthe rotational frequency ωR is lower than a predetermined value, theflux command Φ* is set to a maximum Φmax. If the speed is higher than apredetermined value, the flux command Φ* is set to the minimum Φmin.[Math. 2]If (Run=0Φ*=ΦminElse if (|ω1|<ωA)Φ*=ΦmaxElseΦ*=Φmin  (2)

Here, Φmin is a minimum flux amount (>0) to be taken by thevariable-flux motor 101, Φmax is a maximum flux amount to be taken bythe variable-flux motor 101, and ωA is the predetermined rotationalfrequency. Setting the flux amounts Φmin and Φmax will be explainedlater in connection with a variable flux control unit 113.

A current reference operate unit 111 receives the torque command Tm* andflux command Φ* and calculates a d-axis current reference IdR and aq-axis current reference IqR according to the following expressions (3)and (4):[Math. 3]IdR=0  (3)IqR=Tm*/Φ*  (4)

Here, the expressions (3) and (4) are operational expressions assumingthat a reluctance torque of the motor is not used and the number ofpoles of the motor is zero. The motor may be any one of a salient motorhaving a difference ΔL between the d-axis inductance Ld and the Q-axisinductance Lq and a non-salient motor having no such a difference.

To optimize efficiency or maximize output with a predetermined current,the reluctance torque must be considered. In this case, the followingexpressions are used:[Math. 4]IqR=*−Φ*+√{square root over (Φ*²−4×(Ld−Lq)×K×Tm*)})/2×(Ld−Lq)×K  (5)IdR=K×IqR  (6)

Here, K is a ratio of a d-axis current to a q-axis current that may varydepending on the above-mentioned optimization of efficiency and themaximization of output. For the optimization, the expressions becomefunctions whose arguments include torque, speed, and the like and aregenerally used through simple approximations or as tables. The fluxcommand Φ* in the expression (5) is also operable with the use of anestimated flux value Φh.

FIG. 10 illustrates the details of a magnetization request generate unit129. The block of FIG. 10 is controlled by a control microcomputer atpredetermined intervals. The flux command Φ* is supplied to a previousvalue hold unit 131 and is held therein. An output from the previousvalue hold unit 131 is a flux command Φ* stored last time and is sent toa change test unit 130 together with a flux command value Φ* of thistime. The change test unit 130 outputs 1 if there is a change betweenthe two inputs and 0 if there is no change. Namely, only when the fluxcommand Φ* changes, it outputs 1. A similar circuit configuration isprepared for the run state flag Run in place of the flux command Φ* anda flag value is supplied to and held in a previous value hold unit 133.An output from the previous value hold unit 133 is a run state flag Runstored last time and is sent together with a run state flag Run of thistime to a change test unit 134. Outputs from the two change test units130 and 134 are supplied to an OR unit 132, which provides an OR of thetwo inputs as a magnetization request flag FCreq.

The magnetization request flag FCreq, i.e., the output from themagnetization request generate unit 129 establishes a magnetizationrequest (FCreq=1) if the flux command Φ* or the run state flag Runchanges and no magnetization request (FCreq=0) in the other cases. Therun state flag Run changes, for example, when the inverter starts tooperate, or when it stops, or when it is stopped for protection.Although the embodiment employs the flux command Φ*, a change in amagnetizing current command Im* (an output from a magnetizing currenttable 127) of a variable flux control unit 113 to be explained later maybe used to generate the magnetization request FCreq.

FIG. 11 illustrates the details of the variable flux control unit 113.The variable flux control unit 113 receives the flux command Φ*, i.e.,the output from the flux command operate unit 112 and outputs a d-axismagnetizing current difference ΔIdm* to correct the d-axis currentreference IdR. The generation of the magnetizing current differenceΔIdm* is made according to the below-mentioned operation.

To magnetize the variable magnet VMG, a predetermined magnetizingcurrent command Im* must be obtained according to the BH characteristicof the variable magnet illustrated in FIG. 9. In particular, themagnitude of the magnetizing current command Im* is set to be equal toor larger than Hlsat of FIG. 9, i.e., within a magnetization saturationzone of the variable magnet.

To pass a magnetizing current up to the magnetization saturation zone,the flux amounts Φmin and Φmax set by the flux command operate unit 112must be calculated by adding a positive or negative maximum (saturated)flux value (flux density) of the variable magnet to that of the fixedmagnet. Namely, with the positive maximum flux amount (the absolutevalue of a negative maximum flux amount being equal to that of thepositive maximum flux amount) of the variable magnet VMG being Φvarmaxand the flux amount of the fixed magnet FMG being Φfix, they areexpressed as follows:[Math. 5]Φmin=Φfix−Φvarmax  (7)Φmax=Φfix+Φvarmax  (8)

The flux command Φ* is used to look up the magnetizing current table 127storing corresponding magnetizing currents and output a magnetizingcurrent command Im* for achieving the flux command Φ*.

Basically, the magnetization direction of a magnet is in the directionof the d-axis, and therefore, the magnetizing current Im* is given to ad-axis current command Id*. According to the embodiment, the d-axiscurrent reference IdR that is an output from the current referenceoperate unit 111 is corrected by the d-axis magnetizing current commanddifference ΔIdm*, to provide the d-axis current command Id*.Accordingly, a subtracter 126 finds the d-axis magnetizing currentcommand ΔIdm* from the following expression:[Math. 6]ΔIdm*=Im*−IdR  (9)

To change flux, a configuration of directly giving the magnetizingcurrent Im* to the d-axis current command Id* is possible.

On the other hand, the magnetization request flag FCreq for requestingto change flux becomes a switching request state (FCreq=1) at leastinstantaneously. To surely change flux, the magnetization request flagFCreq is inputted to a minimum ON pulse device 128, which outputs amagnetization completion flag (=1 during magnetization and =0 at thecompletion of magnetization). This flag has a function not to become OFF(=0) for a predetermined time once it becomes ON (=1). If the inputkeeps ON (=1) over the predetermined time, the output becomes OFF assoon as the input becomes OFF.

A switch 123 receives the magnetization completion flag. If it is duringmagnetization (magnetization completion flag=1), the switch outputs theoutput from the subtracter 126, and if it is the completion ofmagnetization (magnetization completion flag=0), 0.

According to the d- and q-axis current commands Id* and Iq* thusprovided, the voltage command operate unit 110 generates d- and q-axisvoltage commands Vd* and Vq* to pass currents conforming to the commandsin question.

The coordinate convert unit 105 converts the d- and q-axis voltagecommands Vd* and Vq* into three-phase voltage commands Vu*, Vv*, and Vw*to PWM-control the inverter 104. A coordinate convert unit 107 convertsAC currents Iu and Iw detected by the current detector 102 into d- andq-axis current detected values Id and Iq, which are inputted to thevoltage command operate unit 110. A pseudo differentiator 108 finds aninverter frequency ω1 from a signal from the speed detector 118. Thevoltage command operate unit 110, coordinate convert units 105 and 107,and PWM circuit 106 are conventional ones employing known techniques.

FIG. 12 is an example of a timing chart illustrating operation ofsignals in a state in which the protect signal is not established(PROT=0). The run state flag Run changes and the flux command Φ*changes, to set the magnetization request flag. The magnetizationcompletion flag keeps an ON state for a predetermined time. Only duringthe period of the magnetization completion flag, the magnetizing currentcommand Im* has a value.

Next, operation of the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineaccording to the embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration andoperation of the drive system thereof will be explained. A magnetomotiveforce necessary for magnetization per pole is approximated by theproduct of a magnetic field necessary for magnetization and thethickness of a permanent magnet. The AlNiCo magnet, i.e., the firstpermanent magnet 3 is magnetized nearly 100% with a magnetic field of250 kA/m. The product of the magnetizing field and the magnet thicknessper pole is 250 kA/m×(6×10− 3/2) m=750 A.

The NdFeB magnet, i.e., the second permanent magnet 4 is magnetizednearly 100% with a magnetic field of 1500 to 2500 kA/m. The product ofthe magnetizing field and the magnet thickness per pole is 1500 to 2500kA/m×(2×10−3) m=3000 to 5000 A. Accordingly, the AlNiCo permanent magnet3 is magnetized with a magnetic field of about ¼ to ⅙ of that for theNdFeB permanent magnet 4. In a magnetic field that is sufficient tomagnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3, the NdFeB permanent magnet 4 isin a reversibly demagnetized state, and therefore, the NdFeB permanentmagnet 4 can maintain a flux state before magnetization even aftermagnetization.

According to the embodiment, the armature coil 21 of the stator 20passes a pulse current for a very short time (about 0.1 ms to 10 ms), toform a magnetic field that acts on the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3. Thecurrent passing time may change depending on the magnitude of a coilinductance of the rotating electrical machine and a current waveform.The pulse current that forms a magnetizing field for the permanentmagnets is a d-axis current component of the armature coil 21 of thestator 20. If the magnetizing field is 250 kA/m, the magnetizing fieldis theoretically sufficient to magnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3and causes no irreversible demagnetization on the NdFeB permanentmagnets 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates fluxes of the permanent magnets when a magnetizingfield acts such that the fluxes of the AlNiCo and NdFeB permanentmagnets 3 and 4 are additive at the magnetic poles and air gap face. InFIG. 3, linkage flux by the AlNiCo first permanent magnets 3 and NdFeBsecond permanent magnets 4 increases to establish a magnetizing state. Amagnetizing field is created by passing a pulse current for a very shorttime through the armature coil 21 of the stator 20. The current passedat this time is a d-axis current component. The pulse current quicklybecomes zero to eliminate the magnetizing field. However, the AlNiCofirst permanent magnets 3 irreversibly change to generate flux B3 in themagnetizing direction. B4 is flux by the NdFeB second permanent magnets4. Flux distributions in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are those related to onemagnetic pole.

FIG. 4 illustrates an action to decrease linkage flux. A negative d-axiscurrent is passed through the armature coil 21, to form a magnetic fieldBd that generates fluxes in a direction opposite to the directionillustrated in FIG. 3. The magnetic field Bd created by the negatived-axis current passed to the armature coil 21 acts from the pole centerof the rotor 1 toward the AlNiCo and NdFeB permanent magnets 3 and 4opposite to the magnetizing direction. The permanent magnets 3 and 4receive magnetic fields B3 i and B4 i in directions opposite to themagnetizing directions of FIG. 3. Since the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 issmall in the product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness, the flux of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 irreversiblydecreases due to the opposite magnetic field. On the other hand, theNdFeB permanent magnet 4 is large in the product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness, and therefore, the magneticcharacteristic thereof is within a reversible range even when itreceives the opposite magnetic field. Accordingly, the magnetized statethereof is unchanged after the magnetizing field Bd by the negatived-axis current disappears and the flux amount thereof is also unchanged.Consequently, only the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 are demagnetized toreduce the amount of the linkage flux.

The embodiment also passes a larger current to form a strong oppositemagnetic field to reverse the polarity of the AlNiCo permanent magnets3. Reversing the polarity of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 results ingreatly reducing the linkage flux, even zeroing the linkage flux.

Generally, the product of magnetizing field and magnet thickness perpole of the AlNiCo magnet is about ¼ to ⅙ of that of the NdFeB magnet,and therefore, only a magnetic field that is sufficient to magnetize theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is generated. FIG. 5 illustrates a magnetizedstate established with a negative d-axis current. The flux B4 of theNdFeB permanent magnets 4 is canceled with the opposite flux B3 of theAlNiCo permanent magnets 3. If the flux amount B3 of the magnets 3 isequal to the flux amount B4 of the magnets 4, flux at the air gap 23will nearly be zeroed. At this time, the flux B4 of the NdFeB permanentmagnets 4 is cancelled and a magnetic circuit with the AlNiCo permanentmagnets 3 is formed. Accordingly, the flux is mostly distributed withinthe rotor 1. This results in uniformly zeroing a distribution of flux atthe air gap.

To increase the linkage flux from the above-mentioned linkage-flux-zerostate, a d-axis current is passed to create a magnetic field to reducethe flux B3 of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 whose polarity is reversedin the linkage-flux-zero state. Since the polarity of the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3 is reversed, the magnetic field to act on the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3 is in the same direction as the original magnetizingdirection of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 illustrated in FIG. 3.Namely, the direction is opposite to the direction of the magnetic fieldBd created by the d-axis current illustrated in FIG. 4. To restore theoriginal maximum linkage flux state by further increasing linkage flux,the polarity of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 is again reversed(returning to the original polarity) to the state of FIG. 3. In thisway, in the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of theembodiment, the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 are operated in a full rangefrom the first quadrant to the fourth quadrant on the magneticcharacteristic curve (the B-H curve representative of the fluxdensity-magnetic field characteristic).

On the other hand, permanent magnets in the conventionalpermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine are operated only inthe second quadrant. To decrease linkage flux, the conventionalpermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine passes a negatived-axis current to the armature coil 21 to create flux that cancels theflux of the second permanent magnets 4 of the rotor 1. However, in theinternal magnet motor, fundamental linkage flux is reduced only to about50% and harmonic flux substantially increases to cause the problems ofharmonic voltages and harmonic iron loss. It is very difficult,therefore, to zero the linkage flux. Even if the fundamental wave iszeroed, harmonic flux increases to a fairly large level. On the otherhand, in the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of theembodiment, fluxes of the permanent magnets 3 and 4 of the rotor 1 aresufficient to uniformly reduce linkage flux, to cause little harmonicflux and no increase in the loss.

In connection with magnetization of permanent magnets, a magnetic fieldby a d-axis current in the rotating electrical machine according to theembodiment acts on two permanent magnets (two permanent magnets at N-and S-poles) in the case of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4. In this pointalone, a magnetic field acting on the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 is abouta half of that acting on the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3. Accordingly, inthe rotating electrical machine of the embodiment, the first permanentmagnet 3 whose product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness is small is easily magnetized with a magnetic field by ad-axis current.

The product of magnetizing field and magnet thickness of the NdFeBpermanent magnet 4 is four times as large as that of the AlNiCopermanent magnet 3. In connection with an arrangement and a structure, amagnetic field created by a d-axis current and acting on the NdFeBpermanent magnet 4 is ½ of that acting on the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3.Therefore, magnetizing the NdFeB permanent magnet 4 needs amagnetomotive force eight times as large as that needed for magnetizingthe AlNiCo permanent magnet 3. This means that a magnetic field that issufficient to magnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 allows the NdFeBpermanent magnet 4 to keep a reversible demagnetization state, and evenafter magnetization, the NdFeB permanent magnet 4 keeps magnetic flux ofbefore magnetization.

Next, a mutual magnetic influence between the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3and the NdFeB permanent magnet 4 will be explained. In the demagnetizingstate of FIG. 5, the magnetic field of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4acts as a biasing magnetic field on the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3.Namely, the magnetic field by the negative d-axis current and themagnetic field by the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 act on the AlNiCopermanent magnet 3, to easily magnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3.The product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness of theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 can be made equal to or larger than theproduct of magnetic field strength and magnetizing direction thicknessof the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 at a no-load operating point. Then, ina linkage flux increased state, the magnetic field of the AlNiCopermanent magnet 3 overcomes the magnetic field of the NdFeB permanentmagnets 4, to provide a flux amount.

As mentioned above, the rotating electrical machine of the embodimentemploys a d-axis current to widely change the linkage flux amount of theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 from a maximum to zero and magnetize themagnet in both the normal and reverse directions. If the linkage flux B4of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 is in the normal direction, the linkageflux B3 of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is adjustable from a maximum tozero, and further, to a maximum in the reverse direction.

As a result, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine ofthe embodiment can magnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 with a d-axiscurrent, to adjust the total linkage flux amount of the AlNiCo and NdFeBpermanent magnets 3 and 4 in a wide range. In a low-speed zone, theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is magnetized with a d-axis current so thatthe flux thereof takes the maximum value in the same direction as thelinkage flux of the NdFeB permanent magnets (the magnetizing stateillustrated in FIG. 3). This maximizes torque produced by the permanentmagnets, and therefore, the torque and output of the rotating electricalmachine are maximized. In middle- and high-speed zones, the flux amountof the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is irreversibly decreased to decreasethe total linkage flux amount. This results in decreasing the voltage ofthe rotating electrical machine, to make a margin for the upper limitvalue of a power source voltage, thereby enabling a rotation speed(frequency) to be increased further. To extremely increase the maximumspeed (to further expand a variable speed range to, for example, a rangethree times a base speed or higher), the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 ismagnetized in a direction opposite to the direction of the linkage fluxof the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 (the flux B3 of the AlNiCo permanentmagnet 3 is oriented as illustrated in FIG. 5 and the magnet 3 ismagnetized to the maximum). Then, the total linkage flux of thepermanent magnets 3 and 4 is the difference between the linkage flux ofthe NdFeB permanent magnets 4 and that of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3.Namely, the total linkage flux is minimized. At this time, the voltageof the rotating electrical machine is also minimized, to maximize therotation speed (frequency) thereof.

In this way, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine andthe permanent magnet motor drive system for rotating and driving thesame according to the embodiment can realize a variable-speed operationin a wide range at high output from low rotation speed to high rotationspeed. In addition, the permanent-magnet-type rotating machine of theembodiment passes a magnetizing current for changing linkage flux onlyfor a very short time. This results in remarkably reducing a loss andrealizing high efficiency in a wide operating range.

The armature coil 21 passes a current to generate a magnetic field formagnetizing the permanent magnets. The magnetic field acts on the firstand second permanent magnets 3 and 4, to form fluxes indicated witharrows B13 and B14 in FIG. 14. Since the narrow magnetic path 11 that iseasily magnetically saturated is formed at the inter-pole yoke, thefluxes created by the current do not pass through the shaft 9 ofnon-magnetic material but pass through the narrow magnetic path 11 atthe inter-pole yoke on the inner circumferential side between the secondpermanent magnets 4. This narrow magnetic path 11, however, is easilymagnetically saturated, to reduce the flux that is generated by themagnetic field created by the armature current and passes through thesecond permanent magnets 4. As a result, the current-based flux on thefirst permanent magnets 3 that must be magnetized increases, and at thesame time, the current-based flux on the second permanent magnets 4 thatmust not be demagnetized decreases to relax the magnetic saturation ofthe pole core portions 7 and stator core 2. This results in reducing thed-axis current necessary for magnetizing the first permanent magnets 3.

Next, in the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine andpermanent magnet motor drive system according to the embodiment,demagnetization of the permanent magnets 3 and 4 due to a load current(q-axis current) at the time of torque generation will be explained.When the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of theembodiment generates torque, the armature coil 21 of the stator 20passes a q-axis current, so that the q-axis current and the fluxes ofthe permanent magnets 3 and 4 cause a magnetic action to generatetorque. At this time, the q-axis current creates a magnetic field. Forthis, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of theembodiment arranges the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 in the vicinity of theq-axis so that the magnetizing direction thereof becomes orthogonal tothe q-axis. With this, the magnetizing direction of the AlNiCo permanentmagnet 3 and the magnetic field by the q-axis current ideally becomeorthogonal to each other, to substantially eliminate the influence ofthe magnetic field by the q-axis current.

However, in a maximum torque state or in a rotating electrical machinewith an armature coil of large ampere-turn for miniaturization and highoutput, the q-axis current, i.e., load current creates a large magneticfield. The magnetic field created by such an excessive q-axis currentirreversibly demagnetizes the first permanent magnet whose product ofcoercive force and thickness is small and which is arranged on therotor. Namely, the q-axis current demagnetizes the permanent magnet andreduces torque.

To cope with this, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineaccording to the embodiment overlaps a positive d-axis current on aq-axis current when generating large torque. FIG. 6 is a modelillustrating an action of a magnetic field when a positive d-axiscurrent is overlapped at the time of torque generation. In FIG. 6, B3 iis the magnetic field by the positive d-axis current, B5 i is a magneticfield by a load current (q-axis current), and B6 is a magnetizingdirection of the first permanent magnet 3 whose product of coerciveforce and magnetizing direction thickness is small. In a large torquerange, the two kinds of permanent magnets 3 and 4 at each pole areadditively oriented, and in this state, the positive d-axis current isin the same direction as the magnetizing direction of the firstpermanent magnet 3. Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the insideof the first permanent magnet 3 is also influenced by the magnetic fieldB3 i created by the positive d-axis current, to cancel the demagnetizingmagnetic field by the q-axis current. Even with the first permanentmagnet 3 whose product of coercive force and thickness is smallaccording to the embodiment, the irreversible demagnetization of thefirst permanent magnet 3 is suppressed even in a large torque generatingstate, a torque decrease due to the magnetic field B5 i by the loadcurrent is suppressed, and large torque is produced.

Next, an action of the hollow 5 formed at each end of each of thepermanent magnets 3 and 4 will be explained. When the permanent magnets3 and 4 apply a centrifugal force to the rotor core 2, the hollow 5relaxes a stress concentration on the rotor core 2, as well as ademagnetizing field. With the hollows 5 arranged as illustrated in FIG.1, the rotor core 2 may have a curved shape to relax stress. A magneticfield created by a current tends to concentrate at each corner of thepermanent magnets 3 and 4, and therefore, a demagnetizing field tends toirreversibly demagnetize the corner. The embodiment forms the hollow 5at each end of the permanent magnets 3 and 4, to relax the demagnetizingfield by a current at each corner of the permanent magnets.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine and permanent magnet motor drive systemaccording to the embodiment provide effects mentioned below. Assumingthat the linkage flux of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 is oriented in anormal direction, the linkage flux of each AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 isadjustable in a wide range from a maximum value in the normal directionto zero to a maximum value in an opposite direction. In this way, theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is operated in a full range from the firstquadrant to the fourth quadrant on the magnetic characteristic curve.The embodiment magnetizes the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 with a d-axiscurrent, to widely adjust the total linkage flux amount of the AlNiCoand NdFeB permanent magnets 3 and 4. Adjusting the total linkage fluxamount of the permanent magnets results in widely adjusting the voltageof the rotating electrical machine. Magnetization is carried out bypassing a pulse current for a very short time, and therefore, there isno need of always passing a flux-weakening current, to thereby greatlyreduce a loss. Unlike the related art, the embodiment has no need ofcarrying out the flux-weakening control, and therefore, causes noharmonic iron loss due to harmonic flux.

In this way, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine andpermanent magnet motor drive system according to the embodiment realizevariable-speed operation at high output in a wide range from low speedto high speed and achieve high efficiency in the wide operating range.In connection with a voltage induced by the permanent magnets, eachAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is magnetized with a d-axis current to reducethe total linkage flux amount of the permanent magnets 3 and 4. Thisprevents the breakage of inverter electronic parts due to the inducedvoltage of the permanent magnets, thereby improving the reliability ofthe machine. When the rotating electrical machine turns under no load,the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 are magnetized with a negative d-axiscurrent to reduce the total linkage flux amount of the permanent magnets3 and 4. This remarkably reduces the induced voltage, to substantiallyeliminate the need of always passing a flux-weakening current todecrease the induced voltage, thereby improving total efficiency. Inparticular, when the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineof the embodiment is installed in a commuter train that involves a longcoasting interval, it greatly improves the total running efficiency ofthe train.

According to the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine andpermanent magnet motor drive system of the embodiment, the secondpermanent magnet 4 whose product of coercive force and magnetizingdirection thickness is large is an NdFeB magnet and the first permanentmagnet 3 whose product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness is small is an AlNiCo magnet. At a maximum rotation speed ω ofthe rotor 1, a counter electromotive voltage generated by the secondpermanent magnets 4 is configured to be equal to or lower than awithstand voltage E of electronic parts of an inverter serving as apower source of the rotating electrical machine, to satisfy thecondition of φPM2≦E/ω·N (N being the number of turns of the armaturecoil 21). This provides the below-mentioned effects. A counterelectromotive voltage generated by a permanent magnet increases inproportion to a rotation speed. The counter electromotive voltage issuppressed below the withstand voltage of the inverter electronic partsor the power source voltage by always passing a d-axis current. If anuncontrollable state occurs, the counter electromotive voltage willexceed the withstand voltage of inverter electronic parts, to causeinsulation breakage. To cope with this, the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine according to the related art limits thecounter electromotive voltage generated by permanent magnets lower thanthe withstand voltage. This design, however, cuts a flux amount of thepermanent magnets, thereby lowering the output and efficiency of themachine in a low-speed zone. On the other hand, the embodiment passes ad-axis current for a short time at high rotation speed, to generate amagnetic field in a demagnetizing direction, thereby irreversiblymagnetize the permanent magnets and reducing the linkage flux of thepermanent magnets 3 and 4. The embodiment, therefore, causes noexcessive counter electromotive voltage even if an uncontrollable stateoccurs at high rotation speed.

If an electrical short circuit occurs in the armature coil 21 and thelike, a short-circuit current demagnetizes each AlNiCo permanent magnet3 or reverses the polarity thereof, and therefore, linkage flux by thepermanent magnets 3 and 4 is produced only by the NdFeB permanentmagnets 4 or is zeroed at the time of the polarity reversal.Accordingly, the short-circuit current is instantaneously decreased bythe rotating electrical machine itself. This prevents heat generation bybraking force due to the short-circuit current or by the short-circuitcurrent itself.

In this way, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine andpermanent magnet motor drive system according to the embodiment generatehigh torque (high output) at low rotation speed, achieve variable-speedoperation with high output in a wide range from low speed to high speed,and realize high efficiency in the wide operating range. In addition,they suppress a counter electromotive voltage at high rotation speed andimprove the reliability of the drive system including an inverter.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 1. A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineaccording to the embodiment adopts an AlNiCo magnet as a first permanentmagnet 3 having an uneven magnetizing direction thickness and atrapezoidal section as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The AlNiCo magnet has a high remanent flux density and a low coerciveforce, and therefore, the flux density thereof suddenly changes withrespect to a magnetic field in a low flux density zone. Accordingly,finely adjusting the flux density only based on the strength of amagnetic field needs accurately controlling the strength of the magneticfield. For this, the embodiment uses that a magnetizing force needed tomagnetize a permanent magnet greatly changes depending on themagnetizing direction thickness of the permanent magnet. According tothe embodiment, the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 is trapezoidal and isuneven in the magnetizing direction thickness thereof. This results inchanging flux amount generated at each thickness of the permanent magnetwhen a magnetic field acts on the permanent magnet. Namely, the strengthof a magnetizing field is made to be greatly dependent on the thicknessof the permanent magnet. As a result, a flux amount with respect to amagnetic field created by a d-axis current becomes easily adjustable andvariations in the flux amount due to variations in external conditionsare reduced.

Third Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine and permanent magnetmotor drive system according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention will be explained. This embodiment drives thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine 101 illustrated inFIG. 1 by the permanent magnet motor drive system illustrated in FIG. 7that creates a pulse-like magnetic field with a short-time d-axiscurrent so as to irreversibly magnetize the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3and change a linkage flux amount. The embodiment always generates fluxby a negative d-axis current in a middle or high rotation speed zone, sothat linkage flux consisting of the flux by the negative d-axis currentand flux by the permanent magnets 3 and 4 is finely adjusted accordingto the flux by the negative d-axis current. Namely, in the middle orhigh speed zone, the pulse-like magnetic field created by the short-timed-axis current irreversibly changes the magnetized state of the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3, thereby greatly changing a linkage flux amount, andthe negative d-axis current that is always passed finely adjusts thelinkage flux amount. At this time, the linkage flux amount finelyadjusted by the negative d-axis current that is always passed is verysmall, and therefore, the always-passed negative d-axis current is toosmall to cause a large loss.

The permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to theembodiment is capable of widely changing a linkage flux amount that is abasis of voltage, finely adjusting the linkage flux amount, andefficiently changing the same.

Fourth Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 13. The structure of a stator 20 of the embodiment issimilar to that of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 or that ofthe related art illustrated in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a rotor 1 of this embodiment embeds NdFeBpermanent magnets 4 in a rotor core 2, each NdFeB permanent magnet 4having an inverted U-shape whose center axis is on a d-axis. Each AlNiCopermanent magnet 3 is arranged inside the rotor core 2 along a q-axis ina diametral direction. Having the inverted U-shape, the NdFeB permanentmagnet 4 can expand a magnetic pole area in a region between two AlNiCopermanent magnets 3. In addition, the inverted U-shape NdFeB permanentmagnet 4 is arranged to block a magnetic path Bq of q-axis flux. Thisresults in reducing a q-axis inductance, thereby improving a powerfactor. A distance Wp between an outer end (central part) of theinverted U-shape NdFeB permanent magnet 4 and an outer circumference(air gap face) of the rotor core 2 is so set not to be magneticallysaturated with flux of the AlNiCo and NdFeB permanent magnets 3 and 4.By setting a flux density at a central part of a pole core portion 7 atabout 1.9 T, a flux distribution of the air gap will not be distorted,and therefore, flux of each permanent magnet can effectively be used.

Fifth Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to thefifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 14. The structure of a stator 20 in thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of the embodiment isthe same as that of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 or thatof the related art illustrated in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, a rotor 1 of this embodiment arranges eachAlNiCo first permanent magnet 3 inside a rotor core 2 along a q-axis ina diametral direction and each NdFeB second permanent magnet 4 insidethe rotor core 2 in a circumferential direction orthogonal to a d-axis.An inner circumferential side of the rotor core 2 of the rotor 1 isengaged with an iron shaft 9. The shaft 9 has four cut faces to form anair layer 8 between the rotor core 2 and the shaft 9. The shaft 9 may bemade of nonmagnetic material such as stainless steel.

An armature coil 21 passes a current to generate a magnetic field formagnetizing the permanent magnets. The magnetic field acts on the AlNiCoand NdFeB permanent magnets 3 and 4, to form fluxes indicated witharrows B13 and B14 in FIG. 14. The fluxes created by the current do notpass through the shaft 9 because of the air layer 8 but pass through anarrow iron core part on the inner circumferential side between theNdFeB permanent magnets 4. This narrow iron core part, however, easilymagnetically saturates, to reduce the flux that is generated by themagnetic field created by the armature current and passes through theNdFeB permanent magnets 4.

As a result, the flux of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 that must bemagnetized increases, and at the same time, the flux of the NdFeBpermanent magnets 4 decreases to relax the magnetic saturation of polecore portions 7 and a stator core 22. This results in reducing a d-axiscurrent necessary for magnetizing the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3. Theshaft 9 made of nonmagnetic material decreases flux leakage to the shaft9, to further reduce the flux passing through each NdFeB magnet 4 andfurther relax the magnetic saturation of the pole core portions 7 andstator core 22.

Sixth Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to thesixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Thisembodiment adopts, in the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine of the first to fifth embodiments, an NdFeB magnet containinglittle Dy element as the second permanent magnet 4 whose product ofcoercive force and magnetizing direction thickness is large. With littleDy element, the permanent magnet has a high remanent flux density of1.33 T or over at 20° C.

At high speed, the rotating electrical machine of the related artcarries out the flux-weakening control with a negative d-axis current tosuppress a voltage increase due to an induced voltage. At this time, anexcessive counter magnetic field acts on the permanent magnets so thatthe permanent magnets are irreversibly demagnetized to greatly reduceoutput. To cope with this, the related art employs NdFeB magnets havinga large coercive force. To increase the coercive force of the NdFeBmagnets, Dy element is added. This, however, lowers the remanent fluxdensity of the permanent magnets to decrease the output of the rotatingelectrical machine. Also, only to improve an ability to resist againstdemagnetization, the magnetizing direction thickness of each NdFeBmagnet must be increased.

The permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of the embodimentirreversibly magnetizes the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3, to adjust alinkage flux amount that generates a voltage. Accordingly, theembodiment conducts no flux-weakening control that applies an excessivemagnetic field to the NdFeB permanent magnets 4. The embodiment may usethe weakening control for a fine adjustment, although a current used forthis is very small to minimize a counter magnetic field. Namely, theNdFeB magnets employed by the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine of the embodiment may be of a low coercive force and a highremanent flux density, this sort of NdFeB magnets being not adoptable bythe rotating electrical machine of the related art due todemagnetization. Such NdFeB magnets can increase an air gap flux densityand provide high output.

For example, the NdFe magnets adopted by the rotating electrical machineof the related art have a coercive force Hcj of 2228 kA/m and a remanentflux density Br of 1.23 T. On the other hand, the NdFeB magnets employedby the embodiment have Hcj=875 kA/m and a remanent flux density Br of1.45 T. In this way, the coercive force of the embodiment is small butthe flux density thereof is 1.17 times larger than that of the relatedart. Namely, the embodiment is expected to provide output about 1.17times larger than that of the related art.

The rotating electrical machine of the related art increases, withoutcontributing to the output thereof, a magnet thickness only forresisting against demagnetization. On the other hand, thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of the embodimentinvolves a small demagnetizing field, and therefore, can reduce thequantity of use of the NdFeB magnets. The embodiment can employ NdFeBmagnets containing substantially no Dy element that is a rare material,and therefore, can stably be manufactured in the future.

Seventh Embodiment

In a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to theseventh embodiment of the present invention, a rotor 1 employs an NdFeBmagnet as a second permanent magnet 4 whose product of coercive forceand magnetizing direction thickness is large and an AlNiCo magnet as afirst permanent magnet 3 whose product of coercive force and magnetizingdirection thickness is small. A counter electromotive voltage generatedby the NdFeB permanent magnet 4 at a maximum rotation speed is set to beequal to or lower than a withstand voltage of inverter electronic partsin a power source of the rotating electrical machine.

A counter electromotive voltage generated by a permanent magnetincreases in proportion to a rotation speed. The counter electromotivevoltage is applied to electronic parts of an inverter, and if it exceedsa withstand voltage of the inverter electronic parts, the parts willbreak. To cope with this, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine according to the related art is designed so that a counterelectromotive voltage to be generated by permanent magnets does notexceed a withstand voltage of electronic parts. This design, however,cuts a flux amount of each permanent magnet, thereby lowering the outputand efficiency of the machine in a low-speed zone.

To cope with this, the embodiment irreversibly magnetizes, at high-speedrotation, the permanent magnets with a demagnetizing field created by anegative d-axis current, thereby nearly zeroing flux of the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3. Since a counter electromotive voltage by the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3 can nearly be zeroed, it is only needed to make acounter electromotive voltage generated at a maximum rotation speed bythe NdFeB permanent magnets 4 whose flux amount is not adjustable lowerthan the withstand voltage of electronic parts. Namely, only the fluxamount of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 must be reduced not to reach thewithstand voltage. On the other hand, at low-speed rotation, a linkageflux amount of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3, which are magnetized tothe maximum, and the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 can be increased.

In practice, in a maximum speed zone, each AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 ismagnetized oppositely to that in a low-speed zone. Accordingly, thetotal linkage flux amount becomes lower than the linkage flux amount ofthe NdFeB permanent magnets 4 alone. Namely, according to the rotatingelectrical machine of the embodiment, a counter electromotive voltage athigh speed becomes lower than that of the NdFeB permanent magnets 4alone, so that a withstand voltage and an allowable maximum rotationspeed may actually have sufficient margins.

As a result, the rotating electrical machine of the embodiment canmaintain high output and high efficiency at low-speed rotation, suppressa counter electromotive voltage at high-speed rotation, and improve thereliability of the system including the inverter.

Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 15. The structure of a stator 20 of the embodiment issimilar to that of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 or that ofthe related art illustrated in FIG. 20.

According to a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of theembodiment, a rotor 1 arranges AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 inside a rotorcore 2 in a radial direction of the rotor 1 that agrees with a q-axisserving as an inter-pole center axis. Except for a part of the rotorcore 2 at each end of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3, an outermostcircumference of the rotor core 2 around the q-axis on an air gap sideis recessed, to form recesses 10.

Operation of the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine ofthe embodiment will be explained. Flux (d-axis flux) created by a d-axiscurrent crosses the AlNiCo and NdFeB magnets 3 and 4. The magneticpermeability of the permanent magnets is substantially equal to that ofair, and therefore, a d-axis inductance is small. On the other hand,flux in a q-axis direction passes through a pole core portion 7 of therotor core in longitudinal directions of the AlNiCo and NdFeB permanentmagnets 3 and 4. The magnetic permeability of the pole core portion 7 ofthe core is 1000 to 10000 times as large as that of the permanentmagnets. If the q-axis part of the rotor core 2 has no recess and if theouter diameter of the rotor core 2 is circumferentially uniform, aq-axis inductance will be large. A q-axis current must be passed toproduce magnetic action and flux to generate torque. At this time, thelarge q-axis inductance increases a voltage generated by the q-axiscurrent. Namely, the large q-axis inductance deteriorates a powerfactor.

The embodiment recesses the outermost circumference of the rotor core 2around the q-axis on an air gap side, to form the recesses 10 thatdecrease flux passing through the recesses 10. Since the recesses 10 arepresent in the q-axis direction, they can reduce the q-axis inductance.This results in improving the power factor. Since the recesses 10decrease the q-axis inductance, negative reluctance torque caused when apositive d-axis current is passed decreases. When the recesses 10 areenlarged to decrease the q-axis inductance lower than the d-axisinductance, the positive d-axis current creates positive reluctancetorque to increase total torque that is the sum of magnet torque andreluctance torque. Each recess 10 equivalently elongates an air gaplength around each end of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3, to lower anaverage magnetic field around the end of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3.This results in reducing the influence of a demagnetizing field on theAlNiCo permanent magnet 3 due to the q-axis current for generatingtorque.

Between the end of the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 and the middle of thepole core portion 7 of the rotor, the middle of the pole core portion 7on the d-axis defines an outermost peripheral part. The distance betweenthe axial center of the rotor and the outer circumference of the rotorcore decreases from the middle of the pole core portion 7 toward the endof the AlNiCo permanent magnet 3 on the outer circumferential side ofthe rotor core.

With this, the embodiment can reduce the q-axis inductance and suppressthe demagnetization of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 due to the q-axiscurrent. The recesses 10 smoothly incline along the outer circumferenceof the rotor, to reduce harmonic flux, torque ripple, and coggingtorque.

Ninth Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to theninth embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 illustrates a structure of thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to theembodiment. This structure accommodates a rotor 1 in a stator 20 with anair gap 23 interposing between them. The stator 20 is similar to that ofthe related art of FIG. 20. Elements common to those of thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to the firstembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 are represented with common referencemarks to omit a repetition of explanation.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine according to the embodiment differs from the first embodiment inthe structure of a first permanent magnet 3 that is embedded in therotor 1 and is small in the product of coercive force and magnetizingdirection thickness. The first permanent magnet 3 is made of two kindsof magnets, i.e., a permanent magnet 3B arranged on a diametrally outerside and a permanent magnet 3A arranged on a diametrally inner side. Thepermanent magnet 3B has a magnetic characteristic that its product ofcoercive force and magnetizing direction thickness is slightly largerthan that of the permanent magnet 3A. For example, the permanent magnet3B is an AlNiCo magnet and the permanent magnet 3A an FeCrCo magnet.Alternatively, the permanent magnets 3A and 3B are AlNiCo magnets withslightly different magnetic characteristics as mentioned above. Namely,the product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness of thepermanent magnet 3B on the outer side is slightly larger than that ofthe permanent magnet 3A arranged on the inner side. The remainingconfiguration and the configuration of a drive system are the same asthose of the first embodiment.

According to the first embodiment that employs the first permanentmagnet 3 that is made of a single kind of magnet and is small in theproduct of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness, flux Bsof a magnetic field for normal rotational driving always strongly actson a shoulder part (“S” surrounded with a circle) on a diametrally outerside of a magnetic pole of the first permanent magnet 3, to cause ademagnetizing phenomenon even in a state passing no magnetizing current.To cope with this, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineaccording to the embodiment forms the first permanent magnet 3, which isdemagnetized or whose magnetizing direction is inverted when amagnetizing current is passed, from the two kinds of permanent magnets,i.e., the permanent magnets 3A and 3B. Among them, the permanent magnetthat is demagnetized or inverted in magnetizing direction by passing amagnetizing current is mainly the permanent magnet 3A, and the permanent3B is arranged at the part S where a strong magnetic field acts duringrotational driving, the permanent magnet 3B having a larger product ofcoercive force and magnetizing direction thickness than the permanentmagnet 3A, to resist against demagnetization caused by the strongmagnetic field.

As a result, the permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machineaccording to the embodiment generates high torque (high output) at lowerrotation speed than the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine according to the first embodiment and is capable of conductingvariable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speedand realizing high-efficiency operation in the wide operation range.

The configuration of the embodiment that provides the first permanentmagnet with the divided configuration consisting of two or more kinds ofpermanent magnets is applicable not only to the first permanent magnet 3of the first embodiment but also to the first permanent magnet 3 of thepermanent-magnet-type rotation electrical machine of any one of FIGS. 13to 16.

Tenth Embodiment

A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine according to thetenth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that, wheneach of the first to ninth embodiments inserts the rotor 1 into thestator during an assembling process, the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 aremagnetized so that flux by the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 and flux bythe NdFeB permanent magnets 4 are oppositely oriented at each pole coreportion 7 or the air gap face.

When assembling the magnetized rotor 1 and the stator together in amanufacturing process, some measure must be taken against magneticattraction of the permanent magnets. Magnetizing the magnets so thatflux of the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 and flux of the NdFeB permanentmagnets 4 are oppositely oriented helps reduce the total flux amount ofthe permanent magnets in the rotor 1. This results in reducing themagnetic attraction between the rotor and the stator, to improveworkability of the assembling work. If the flux amount generated by theAlNiCo permanent magnets 3 and NdFeB permanent magnets 4 is zeroed,there will be no magnetic attraction, so that the rotor can very easilybe assembled with the stator.

In each of the first to ninth embodiments, repair and maintenance willbe carried out through disassembling work that pulls out the rotor 1from the stator. At this time, it is also preferable to magnetize theAlNiCo permanent magnets 3 so that flux by the AlNiCo permanent magnets3 and flux by the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 are oppositely oriented ateach pole core portion 7 or the air gap face. Magnetizing the AlNiCopermanent magnets 3 so that flux by the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 andflux by the NdFeB permanent magnets 4 are oppositely oriented at thetime of disassembling reduces flux amount of the permanent magnets ofthe rotor 1 and magnetic attraction between the rotor and the stator,thereby improving the workability of disassembling. If the flux amountgenerated by the AlNiCo permanent magnets 3 and NdFeB permanent magnets4 is zeroed, there will be no magnetic attraction force, so that therotor is easily pulled out from the stator.

Although each of the above-mentioned embodiments relates to a four-polerotating electrical machine, the present invention is also applicable tomultipole rotating electrical machines such as eight-pole rotatingelectrical machines. Depending on the number of poles, the arrangements,positions, and shapes of permanent magnets must properly be changed toprovide the same actions and effects as those provided by theembodiments.

Permanent magnets that form magnetic poles are each identified accordingto the product of coercive force and magnetizing direction thickness.Accordingly, the same actions and effects will be obtained by formingeach magnetic pole with permanent magnets of the same kind havingdifferent magnetizing direction thicknesses.

Eleventh Embodiment

A permanent magnet motor drive system 200 according to the eleventhembodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 17 to 19. The permanent magnet motor drive system of thisembodiment is usable in place of the drive system of the above-mentionedfirst embodiment, to drive and control the permanent-magnet-typerotating electrical machine of any one of the first to ninthembodiments. In FIG. 17, parts common to the first embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7 are represented with the same reference marks.

The variable-flux permanent magnet motor drive system 200 according tothe embodiment includes a main circuit 200A and a control circuit 200Band differs from the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in that thecontrol circuit 200B additionally includes a flux estimate unit 109 toestimate a flux Oh with the use of voltage commands Vd* and Vq* from avoltage command operate unit 110, d- and q-axis currents Id and Iq froma coordinate convert unit 107, and a rotor rotational angle frequency ω1and output the estimated flux to a variable flux control unit 113. Inaddition, the variable flux control unit 113 has a configurationillustrated in FIG. 18. The configuration of the main circuit 200A isthe same as that of the main circuit 100A of FIG. 7.

The flux estimate unit 109 uses the d- and q-axis voltage commands Vd*and Vq*, d- and q-axis currents Id and Iq, and rotor rotational anglefrequency ω1 (inverter frequency), to estimate the d-axis flux amount asfollows:[Math. 7]Φh=(Vq*−R1×Iq−ω1×Ld×Id−Lq×dIq/dt)/ω1  (10)

The estimated flux value Φh and a flux command Φ* from a flux commandoperate unit 112 are inputted to the variable flux control unit 113.

A detailed configuration of the variable flux control unit 113 of thisembodiment is illustrated in FIG. 18. A subtracter 119 calculates adeviation between the flux command Φ* and the estimated flux value Φhand supplies the deviation to a PI control unit 120. The flux command Φ*is inputted to a magnetizing current reference operate unit 121. Themagnetizing current reference operate unit 121 calculates a magnetizingcurrent command Im* with the use of a table or a functional equation, sothat magnetization is carried out to realize flux corresponding to theflux command Φ*. At this time, the above-mentioned BH characteristic isused. An adder 122 adds an output from the magnetizing current referenceoperate unit 121 to an output from the PI control unit 120.

The adder 122 provides the magnetizing current command Im*. Formagnetization, the magnetizing current command Im* is applied as ad-axis current command Id*. To make Id* and Im* agree with each other,the embodiment uses a subtracter 126 to subtract a d-axis currentreference IdR from the magnetizing current command Im* and provide ad-axis magnetizing current command difference ΔIdm*. This difference isadded to the d-axis current reference IdR by an adder 114 of FIG. 17,and therefore, the d-axis current command Id* agrees with themagnetizing current command Im*.

A switch 123 in the variable flux control unit 113 selects one of twoinputs according to a magnetization completion flag to be explainedlater and outputs the magnetizing current command Idm*. If themagnetization completion flag is 0 (magnetization completed), the d-axismagnetizing current command difference ΔIdm* is set to zero. If themagnetization completion flag is 1 (in magnetization), the output of theadder 122 is provided as ΔIdm*.

The deviation between the flux command Φ* and the estimated flux valueΦh is also supplied from the subtracter 119 to a magnetizationcompletion test unit 124. The magnetization completion test unit 124provides 1 if the absolute value of the flux deviation is smaller than apredetermined value α, and if it is greater than α, provides 0. Aflip-flop (RS-FF) 125 receives a magnetization request flag FCreq at aset terminal S and the output from the magnetization completion testunit 124 at a reset terminal R. An output from the RS-FF 125 is themagnetization completion flag, which is inputted to the PI control unit120 and switch 123. If the magnetization completion flag is 0, itindicates that magnetization has been completed, and if 1, it indicatesthat magnetization is in progress.

The estimated flux value Φh from the flux estimate unit 109 is alsoinputted to a current reference operate unit 111. The current referenceoperate unit 111 uses the estimated flux value Φh, instead of the fluxcommand Φ* used by the expression of the first embodiment, andcalculates d- and q-axis current references IdR and IqR as follows:

[Math. 8]IqR=(−Φh+√{square root over (Φh²−4×(Ld−Lq)×K×Tm*)})/2×(Ld−Lq)×K  (11)IdR=K×IqR  (12)

With the above-mentioned configuration, this embodiment provides actionsand effects mentioned below. If there is a magnetization request, themagnetization request flag rises to 1 at least instantaneously. TheRS-FF 125 is then set to provide the magnetization completion flag of 1to indicate that magnetization is in progress. The switch 123 providesthe magnetizing current command Im* based on the outputs from the PIcontrol unit 120 and magnetizing current reference operate unit 121. Themagnetizing current reference operate unit 121 provides, in afeed-forward manner, a magnetizing current based on a beforehand graspedBH characteristic so as to achieve the flux command Φ*. This results ininstantaneously carrying out magnetization up to nearly the commandvalue. Since the duration of magnetization is shortened, the generationof unnecessary torque or loss can be suppressed. The BH characteristicmay be obtained beforehand through tests.

As mentioned above, it is difficult to precisely make flux agree with aspecified value. Accordingly, this embodiment corrects the magnetizingcurrent Im* as illustrated in FIG. 19 so that the flux deviationapproaches 0 due to the action of the PI control unit 120 in thevariable flux control unit 113. In the last stage, this makes the fluxcommand Φ* and estimated flux value Φh (i.e., actual flux if there is noestimation error) agree with each other. This improves a flux amountrepetition accuracy in a magnetization process and increases a torqueaccuracy.

According to this embodiment, the magnetization completion test unit 124in the variable flux control unit 113 outputs 1 if the absolute value ofthe flux deviation comes in the predetermined range α as illustrated inFIG. 19, to indicate that a specified flux amount has actually beenattained and magnetization has been completed. In response to the resetrequest, the RS-FF 125 provides the magnetization completion flag of 0.In this way, when the estimated flux value agrees with the flux commandΦ*, the magnetization process is terminated. As a result, thisembodiment improves a flux amount repetition accuracy in a magnetizationprocess and increases a torque accuracy.

According to this embodiment, the d- and q-axis current references IdRand IqR are generated with the use of the estimated flux value Φhestimated from voltages and currents, and therefore, d- and q-axiscurrent commands are corrected according to actual conditions even if aflux amount varies due to a magnetization process. Since d- and q-axiscurrents are passed according to the d- and q-axis current commands, aninfluence of flux amount variation on torque can be reduced and a torqueaccuracy can be improved.

This embodiment is based on an estimated flux value. The estimated fluxvalue includes motor inductances such as Ld and Lq. These values varyaccording to magnetic saturation. In particular, the variable-flux motorchanges its magnetic saturation depending on a variable flux amount. Itis, therefore, advantageous for improving a flux estimation accuracy andtorque accuracy to employ a function or table that receives an estimatedvalue of variable flux and outputs a motor inductance.

Even if such a table is prepared, it is sometimes difficult to correctlygrasp the inductance characteristics. In this case, the flux estimationmay be replaced with a flux detector consisting of Hall elements and thelike to detect an actual flux value Φr and use the same in place of theestimated flux value Φh. This will further improve a flux estimationaccuracy and torque accuracy.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been explained above,the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodimentsand various modifications are possible. For example,permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machines and permanent magnetmotor drive systems mentioned below also fall in the technical scope ofthe present invention.

(1) A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine including arotor having a plurality of first permanent magnets embedded in acylindrical rotor core at equiangular intervals in a rotation direction,each of the first permanent magnets having a product of coercive forceand magnetizing direction thickness smaller than that of a secondpermanent magnet and being oriented so that a magnetizing directionthereof is orthogonal to a diametral direction or in a diametraldirection and a plurality of the second permanent magnets embedded inthe rotor core at equiangular intervals in the rotation direction, eachof the second permanent magnets having a product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness larger than that of the first permanentmagnet, being oriented so that a magnetizing direction thereof agreeswith a diametral direction, and being positioned between adjacent onesof the first permanent magnets so that the adjacent first permanentmagnets and the second permanent magnet between them form a magneticpole, the number of the magnetic poles being equal to the number of thesecond permanent magnets, a stator arranged to surround the rotor with amagnetic air gap interposing between them, and an armature coil formedon an inner circumferential part of the stator that faces the magneticair gap, a narrow magnetic path being formed in the rotor core at aninter-pole yoke that magnetically connects adjacent ones of the magneticpoles to each other, so that the narrow magnetic path is magneticallysaturated with flux of a magnetic field created by a predeterminedmagnetizing current passed to the armature coil, each of the pluralityof first permanent magnets at each of the plurality of magnetic polesbeing magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing currentpassed to the armature coil, to irreversibly change the flux amount ofthe first permanent magnet, the rotor being configured such that theplurality of first permanent magnets are oriented in a direction inwhich a magnetizing direction thereof is orthogonal to a diametraldirection and are embedded in the rotor at equiangular intervals in arotation direction.

(2) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the narrow magnetic path at the inter-pole yoke of the rotorcore is set so that it has a flux density of around magnetic saturationif a magnetizing current passed to the armature coil is zeroed and sothat it is magnetically saturated when a magnetizing current is passedto the armature coil.

(3) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the narrow magnetic path at the inter-pole yoke of the rotorcore is set so that it has a flux density of just before magneticsaturation if a maximum torque generating flux state is established inthe permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine and so that it ismagnetically saturated when a magnetizing current is passed to thearmature coil.

(4) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the narrow magnetic path at the inter-pole yoke of the rotorcore is set so that it has a flux density of just before magneticsaturation if a maximum torque generating flux state is established inthe permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine, so that it has aflux density of around magnetic saturation if a magnetizing currentpassed to the armature coil is zeroed, so that it is magneticallysaturated when a magnetizing current is passed to the armature coil, sothat its flux density at the zero current is larger than that at themaximum torque, and so that its flux density when the magnetizingcurrent is passed is the largest.

(5) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, a magnetic path sectional area at the inter-pole yoke of therotor core is narrower than a magnetic path sectional area of a poleyoke on an inner side of a magnetic pole so that the narrow magneticpath is magnetically saturated with flux of the magnetic field createdby the predetermined magnetizing current passed to the armature coil.

(6) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core has an average fluxdensity of magnetic saturation and the pole yoke has an average fluxdensity of before saturation.

(7) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core has a flux density of 1.8T to 2 T when a magnetizing current passed to the armature coil is zeroand 2 T or higher when the magnetizing current is passed.

(8) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core has a flux density of 1.8T when no magnetizing current is passed to the armature coil and 2 Twhen the magnetizing current is passed.

(9) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet has a thicker magnetizing directionthickness than the second permanent magnet.

(10) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is arranged so that it receives abiasing magnetic field from the second permanent magnet.

(11) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the product of coercive force and magnetizing directionthickness of the first permanent magnet is equal to or larger than theproduct of magnetic field strength and magnetizing direction thicknessof the second permanent magnet at a no-load operating point.

(12) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first and second permanent magnets have differentmagnetizing directions.

(13) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet that forms the magnetic pole isarranged at a position where an angle between the magnetizing directionof the first permanent magnet and a q-axis is larger than an anglebetween the magnetizing direction of the second permanent magnet thatforms the magnetic pole and the q-axis.

(14) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the second permanent magnet that forms the magnetic pole isarranged at a position where the magnetizing direction thereof is in ad-axis direction or a diametral direction of the rotor.

(15) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is arranged at a position where themagnetizing direction thereof is in a rotation direction of the rotor.

(16) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the magnetizing direction thickness of the first permanentmagnet is larger than the magnetizing direction thickness of the secondpermanent magnet.

(17) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the second permanent magnet is shaped so that a central partthereof is closer to the magnetic air gap than end parts thereof.

(18) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the second permanent magnet is arranged at a position where adistance between the central part of the second permanent magnet and anair gap face of the rotor core is so set not to magnetically saturatethe rotor core in the vicinity of the central part of the secondpermanent magnet with flux of all permanent magnets.

(19) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the second permanent magnet has a remanent flux density of 0.9T or over at 20° C.

(20) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the second permanent magnet is an NdFeB-based permanent magnetcontaining little Dy element.

(21) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, a flux density φPM2 of the second permanent magnet is set sothat a counter electromotive voltage generated by the second permanentmagnet at a maximum rotation speed ω of the rotor is equal to or lowerthan a withstand voltage E of electronic parts of an inverter serving asa power source of the rotating electrical machine, to satisfy thecondition of φPM2≦E/ω·N (N being the number of turns of the armaturecoil).

(22) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the rotor core is shaped so that magnetic resistance in thedirection of the d-axis that is a pole center axis of the rotor is smalland magnetic resistance in the direction of the q-axis that is aninter-pole center axis is large.

(23) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is configured so that its magneticresistance becomes higher at an end thereof on the magnetic air gapside.

(24) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is arranged in the vicinity of theq-axis and a part of the rotor core in the vicinity of the q-axis on themagnetic air gap side is recessed from an outermost circumference of therotor core.

(25) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is arranged in the vicinity of theq-axis, a pole center part of the rotor core aligned with the d-axis isset to be an outermost peripheral part of the rotor, and a part of therotor core between the vicinity of the pole center part on the d-axisand the vicinity of the q-axis is recessed from the outermost peripheralpart of the rotor.

(26) In the above-mentioned permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, the first permanent magnet is made of two kinds of permanentmagnets having different coercive forces, the permanent magnet withlarger coercive force being arranged on a diametrally outer side and thepermanent magnet with smaller coercive force on a diametrally innerside.

(27) A permanent magnet motor drive system including a permanent magnetmotor using permanent magnets, an inverter to drive the permanent magnetmotor, and a magnetizing unit to pass a magnetizing current forcontrolling flux of the permanent magnets, the permanent magnet motorincluding a rotor having a plurality of first permanent magnets embeddedin a cylindrical rotor core at equiangular intervals in a rotationdirection, each of the first permanent magnets having a product ofcoercive force and magnetizing direction thickness smaller than that ofa second permanent magnet and being oriented so that a magnetizingdirection thereof is orthogonal to a diametral direction or in adiametral direction and a plurality of the second permanent magnetsembedded in the rotor core at equiangular intervals in the rotationdirection, each of the second permanent magnets having a product ofcoercive force and magnetizing direction thickness larger than that ofthe first permanent magnet, being oriented so that a magnetizingdirection thereof agrees with a diametral direction, and beingpositioned between adjacent ones of the first permanent magnets so thatthe adjacent first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnetbetween them form a magnetic pole, the number of the magnetic polesbeing equal to the number of the second permanent magnets, a statorarranged to surround the rotor with a magnetic air gap interposingbetween them, and an armature coil formed on an inner circumferentialpart of the stator that faces the magnetic air gap, the magnetizing unitpassing for a short time a d-axis current of the armature coil of thepermanent magnet motor, to generate a magnetic field that magnetizes thefirst permanent magnets at each magnetic pole so as to irreversiblychange a flux amount of the permanent magnets, and further, changing thecurrent phase of a current passed to the armature coil, to pass amagnetizing current, the magnetizing unit magnetizing the firstpermanent magnet with a magnetic field created by a current of thearmature coil at the magnetic pole and inverting the polarity of thefirst permanent magnet.

(28) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system, themagnetizing unit magnetizes the first permanent magnet with a magneticfield created by a current of the armature coil at the magnetic pole, toirreversibly change a flux amount of the first permanent magnet and zeroa linkage flux amount of the armature coil due to the first and secondpermanent magnets.

(29) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system, thefirst and second permanent magnets that form the magnetic pole arearranged and magnetized so that fluxes thereof become additive to eachother, a magnetic field is formed by passing a current to the armaturecoil, to magnetize the first permanent magnet and irreversibly reducelinkage flux produced by the permanent magnets, and after the linkageflux reduction, a magnetic field is oppositely formed by passing acurrent to the armature coil, to magnetize the first permanent magnetand irreversibly increase an amount of the linkage flux.

(30) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system, thefirst and second permanent magnets that form the magnetic pole arearranged and magnetized so that fluxes thereof become additive to eachother, a magnetic field in a first direction is formed by passing acurrent to the armature coil, to magnetize the first permanent magnetand invert the polarity thereof, a magnetic field in a second directionthat is opposite to the first direction is formed after the inversion bypassing a current to the armature coil, to again invert the polarity ofthe first permanent magnet to the original polarity.

(31) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system, themagnetic field by the d-axis current magnetizes the first permanentmagnet to irreversibly change a flux amount thereof or inverts thepolarity of the first permanent magnet, and at the time of passing thed-axis current to magnetize the first permanent magnet, a q-axis currentis passed to control torque.

(32) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system,operations to be carried out include magnetizing the first permanentmagnet with a magnetic field produced by a d-axis current, toirreversibly change a flux amount of the first permanent magnet, orinverting the polarity of the first permanent magnet, and making fluxcreated by the d-axis current substantially reversibly change a linkageflux amount of the armature coil caused by a current and the permanentmagnets.

(33) In the above-mentioned permanent magnet motor drive system, thefirst permanent magnet is magnetized, if torque is at the maximum, so asto make flux of the first permanent magnet and flux of the secondpermanent magnet additive to each other at each magnetic pole, and ifload is light with small torque or if speed is in a middle or high zone,the first permanent magnet is magnetized with a magnetic field createdby a current, to reduce the flux thereof or invert the polarity thereof.

1. A permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine comprising: arotor having a plurality of first permanent magnets embedded in acylindrical rotor core at equiangular intervals in a rotation direction,each of the first permanent magnets having a product of coercive forceand magnetizing direction thickness smaller than that of a secondpermanent magnet and being oriented so that a magnetizing directionthereof is orthogonal to a diametral direction or in a diametraldirection and a plurality of the second permanent magnets embedded inthe rotor core at equiangular intervals in the rotation direction, eachof the second permanent magnets having a product of coercive force andmagnetizing direction thickness larger than that of the first permanentmagnet, being oriented so that a magnetizing direction thereof agreeswith a diametral direction, and being positioned between adjacent onesof the first permanent magnets so that the adjacent first permanentmagnets and the second permanent magnet between them form a magneticpole, the number of the magnetic poles being equal to the number of thesecond permanent magnets; a stator arranged to surround the rotor with amagnetic air gap interposing between them; and an armature coil formedon an inner circumferential part of the stator that faces the magneticair gap, a narrow magnetic path being formed in the rotor core at aninter-pole yoke that magnetically connects adjacent ones of the magneticpoles to each other, so that the narrow magnetic path is magneticallysaturated with flux of a magnetic field created by a predeterminedmagnetizing current passed to the armature coil, each of the pluralityof first permanent magnets at each of the plurality of magnetic polesbeing magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing currentpassed to the armature coil, to irreversibly change the flux amount ofthe first permanent magnet.
 2. The permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine of claim 1, wherein: the rotor being configured suchthat the plurality of first permanent magnets are oriented in adirection in which a magnetizing direction thereof is orthogonal to adiametral direction and are embedded in the rotor at equiangularintervals in a rotation direction.
 3. The permanent-magnet-type rotatingelectrical machine of claim 1, wherein: the narrow magnetic path at theinter-pole yoke of the rotor core is set so that it has a flux densityof just before magnetic saturation if a maximum torque generating fluxstate is established in the permanent-magnet-type rotating electricalmachine, so that it has a flux density of around magnetic saturation ifa magnetizing current passed to the armature coil is zeroed, so that itis magnetically saturated when a magnetizing current is passed to thearmature coil, so that its flux density at the zero current is largerthan that at the maximum torque, and so that its flux density when themagnetizing current is passed is the largest.
 4. Thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of claim 1, wherein: amagnetic path sectional area at the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core isnarrower than a magnetic path sectional area of a pole yoke on an innerside of a magnetic pole so that the narrow magnetic path is magneticallysaturated with flux of the magnetic field created by the predeterminedmagnetizing current passed to the armature coil.
 5. Thepermanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine of claim 1, wherein:the inter-pole yoke of the rotor core has an average flux density ofmagnetic saturation and the pole yoke has an average flux density ofbefore saturation.